In every super dramatic drama genre novel or television series, you'll probably encountered this kind of scene. 

A scene where there are a bunch of power-hungry, money-grubbing people and called themself a family gathering. Eating super expensive cut steak with super expensive wine and talk about business module or whatever that runs the company.

Yeah...

I'm in the middle of it. Sitting beside a step brother who is the eye of the storm that currently brewing. 

Apparently, we are at earlier chapter of <When boy meets girl>. The part where my 'dear' father has banished Mika's lover to somewhere far away in the name of furthering studies. Well, to be exact truth, it was my step mother scheme. She does not like her son to be mingling with lower born people so she suggest to father to send Mika's lover away.

By the way, Mika's lover is my best friend a.k.a the female lead of this story. 

Why earlier chapter I say? It sounds like almost episode 5 or 6 if it's television series right? Did I say <When boy meets girl> has 10 volume?

Hahaha.

We just nearing the end of volume 1. 

Of course, Lily will come back. She is the female lead. Mika acting out right now is for dramatization purpose though I feel bad to him. Especially when my relatives are fully enjoying this telenovela in front of them. 

Grandmother on the other hand, just give up understanding the problem and just enjoy her wine and steak. All that matters are her companies are doing okay. 

Oh I envy her.

But I can't be nonchalant like her. Not when I'm not in control of my own body at the moment. 

"Micheal Romaldi!"

I flinched hearing my father roaring voice that my gravy bowl spilled on top of the table. Maybe I'm the one who is super dramatic right now. Why can't this character be super chill?

"S-sorry..."my voice squeaked out like a little mice. 

Mika quickly helped me when maids came with extra clothes to wipe the dining table. "Are you okay, Myra?" he asked concerned.

I nodded with tears brimmed on edges. "Thank you, Mika."

Oh god! Myra Romaldi do you have to cry in this time? It's not you who is getting scolded! Stop being so sissy!

"Do you have to yell like that, father? Can't you see how scared Myra is?"

My father glared at Mika. "Don't try to change the subject Mika," he warned. "And stop crying, Myra."

My step mother rolled her eyes and groaned. She hates it when father showed some kind of favoritism to me. Suck it woman, I'm not proud to be the subject of your loathe too. 

"I don't care if you're going to witheld my card, my car or cut ties with me entirely. Lily's innocent in this matter. Even in the future, who ever I'm going to fall in love with, is none of your concern!" Mika said ultimately and stood up. He threw his napkin on to his chair and walked straight to his room. 

The relatives leered at him as he climbed the stairs. They might enjoy the telenovela tonight, but the company won't fall in their hands overnight. Mika is still the legitimate heir to Noble Corp. 

When Mika's figure gone from everyone view, I suddenly felt a release to my body. A sign that a scene from the novel has ended and I am no longer playing the part until further scenes when I'm needed. 

Instantly, I grab a glass filled sparkling water and wet my throat. The fizzy sensation burned through my esophagus and I let out a small burped when the water settled in my stomach. As if on cue, I stood up.

"Sit down Myra," father instructed me.

I courtsied with my head to grandmother and father. Without looking back, I too went upstair without finishing my dinner. I'm starting to miss nanny cooking the more time I spent time with this family. 

* * * * *

It has been 3 years since nanny passed away and I thought that I would not get any emotional support anymore from people that I cared. Yet as time goes by, Mika has become someone that I cared for too. Unwittingly.

Mika is 3 years older than I am. The first time I met him, nothing impressive happen that I remember. All I could muster up was me, crying over nanny's death and emotionally turbulance over Sammy's action. I got sent to the 'best boarding school' which my father own way of locking me away from public and instead having a nanny to take care of me, Mika was there.

He got admitted into university which is the school's own university with escalator system. The rate to get admitted was 4% for those who did not enroll through the escalator system. Mika undeniably has a good head on his shoulder and it was part of the story's plot. 

Everything unwrapped as it has been described in the novel. The accidental meeting, the lead up confrontation, the tension and oh, the blooming of young love. What I don't expact is how caring Mika is towards his sister, a.k.a me. 

In the novel, I'm just a passby name with so little dialogue on the first book. Well, I have more passive description of what I am saying compared to dialogues. So, when Mika is behaving nice and actually showing genuine care to me, it just caught me off guard. 

So, it's hard for me to hate him. Though I'm not outwrightly showing that I care about him. Sometimes, he can be a bit overbearing when it comes to brother-sister relationship. 

That's why, as a caring little sister, I took upon myself without the force of the plot or worrying of causality of my action, I knock lightly on Mika's door. "Mika..." I called him.

No response. I took a deep breath and twisted the door knob. I peeked through and saw a familiar dimly lit room. Mika was sitting by his bed, back bent and head down. On his hands, he was holding a smartphone and his fingers were scrolling on the screen. 

"Mika..." I called again.

He lifted up his head and I could see how depressed he was.

I sighed. Carefully, I approached his bed after closing the door and sit beside him. 

Mika without hesitation, slumped his head on my shoulder. Awkwardly, I patted his cheek. "Did you try to contact her?"

"She didn't pick up."

"She just needs time," I said honestly. You'll meet her again in volume 2. With the power of time skip that is. For now, you stuck in waiting game. You'll get up in no time, Mika. 

Mika closed his eyes and breathed. "Maybe it is better for her to be away."

"Yes?" Suprised with Mika's unexpected confession.

Mika chuckled. "I mean, she is an ambitious girl. Going overseas and study at good uni might be a right calling for her future."

Well, well, well. That is so mature of Mika to think like that. Why, the author didn't highlight this part instead of showing his childish behaviour at dinner just now? Is it for shock element and trend in media? Readers instantly draws to drama just like my relatives. They enjoy the tension and shocking revelation of whatever rrevelation might come out of lead characters.

"Still, don't you feel regret?" I asked testing him.

Mika lifted his head up and looked at my face. "It would be a lie if I don't. I like her. She's playfull, determine and strong. Also, she's a good judge of character too. Or else, she won't be defending you on the first day of school."

I pouted at Mika's remark. Lily is not from a poor family, she is one of lucky middle class income family that got sponsored to further study there. Though typically, in poor woman rich man story where, the female leads help an assuming bystander who was getting alienated in class, is someone who has a quality of a good judge of character.

Why?

Because she helped the male lead's sister and befriend her with no string attach. Lily does not know that I'm a bastard child of Romaldi family. 

"But?" I questioned, waiting for Mika's counter.

"But, she still young. Fighting for love at her age when she barely has anything to own and more so, experience. I don't want to ruin her dream just because we both have feelings for each other."

"If father hear this, he might called Lily back."

Mika laughed at my my remarks. "But my mother won't like it nevertheless."

My eyes shook. "Wait, you knew?"

"Of course I know, you slowpoke. Sending Lily away was my mother's idea all along. She doesn't want me to be like her. Married for love, betrayed by love..."

I smiled bitterly. Everyone in this family at least has one tragic backstory, me included. "Then why are you lashing out like that?" I asked to test him again. 

Sometimes, it fascinating to know these characters thought process behind plot scenes. While I am trapped and treated as a third person, these characters are actually according to their own will orchestrated by author.

"I was suprise you silly. But, I just want to let our parents know that I have my own will too. In the future, I might fall in love with another woman that they not like again. Will they send her away too? I have to make a stance at the very least, show my resolve."

When he said that, he's blue eyes showed a deep determination that made me remember of Mika's character description. Even the ocean of fire cannot stop him.

I poked his shoulder. "Then, what are you going to do now you don't have access to your credit cards and car?"

Once again he slumped over like a dead plant. Then he hugged me. More like clung to my body with ugly crying face. "Myra... Help me. I can live without credit card. I still have money from my intern job in my debit card but car? I don't know shit about public transport. I hate crowded places. How am I going to my job like this..."

I looked at this pitiful man and rolled my eyes. "You can use my car. You don't mind compact car, right?"

Mika's face light up. "Really? You lend me that cutie. Awww... I love you."

I pushed Mika's face away with disgust. That car was father's present upon me graduating with higest score in the whole year and because my step mother hate father showing any kind of favoritism, he asked Sammy to deliver the compact car. 

"In return, you have to send me to school everyday and accompany me to see Wren's movies everytime."

"Okay, okay! Not just theater, even here, at home. I'll watch it together with you!"

"No need thank you."

"But I want to spend time with you and express my gratitude."

"That's too much, Mika."

"Awww..." He stompped his feet on the carpet. Like a child not getting his favourite candy. "Then what about Samuel?"

"What about Samuel?" My voice rose a pitch higher. 

" Didn't you go watch Wren's movies with him? I don't think he likes it if I tag along."

Suddenly I felt a volcano might erupt in any moment. "I did not go watch movies with him. He followed me around by father's order! Who cares if he likes it or not."

"You still mad at him?"

"I don't!"

"Hmmm, you still mad at him."

"Shut up, Micheal!" I exploded. Rather than mad, it was more of resentment. I just can't bring myself to forgive him no matter hard I try to reasoned his action. The person itself didn't even try to plead for forgiveness. 

"Somehow I feel jealous of Samuel. He got to watch you grow and be there for you. He even helps you convince father to let you own that small investment company. He acts more like a brother that I yours," Mika confessed with a hint of sullen in his voice.

I blinked my eyes a few times, watching his pouty mouth and swollen cheeks. "You... Aren't we talking about your heart break? Why the sudden jealousy?"

"Because it's relate!"

"How?!"

"Because my dear Myra," he said while holding my hands in his big palms. "As an outsider with legitimacy to inherit the company, my power to protect the people I love is measly compared to that person you called Sammy."

I watched Mika in horror. Everything seemed to be clicked. The sudden ending in volume 10 is not so far fetch now that I had seen the reason. It had been long in the making. Mika never even once thought to inherit the company. 

"No..."

Mika shook his head. "I may be a Romaldi now but I'm never a Romaldi to begin with. My mother married your father despite knowing that my mother is a widowed at that time. At that time, he wants to marry someone else-"

"Stop this." I glared Mika in the eyes. "Somehow I started to suspect that Miracle Investment was your doing."

Mika's eyes widened and his childish naughtiness carved in his teasing smile. "At that time, both Samuel and I coincidentally has alligned interest. I just spoke what I truly think and Samuel was the one doing the convincing. There's no way father would listen to me. Though I get caught by mother for supporting you, we received our punishment well."

We? What power does my step mother has to punish Sammy? Unless, Mika means...

"Lily knows everything. We already discuss the consequences of my action. This is just the beginning..."

Mika's words became muddled after that. This was supposed to be a trashy romance novel with cliche settings. What do you mean that the leads are actually plotting to put a no-presence supporting character on a limelight of chapter finale?

Has my senses been dulled the past 10 years I've been cooped up in that villa? I should have known that there would have unwritten story behind every plot written by authors. It's not my first rodeo with hidden story like this. Yet, why am I sho shaken by this?

In this dream, I'm barely 20 years old. I just got admitted into a good university. Maybe enjoy a few more Wren's work along the years before the story ends and I move on to another dream. So why does it feels like I 'm going straight from volume 1 to volume 10 in an instant?

"Myra? Is it too much for you to handle now?"

"Do you want me to resent you too, Mika?" I asked him. "I'm grateful that I had something in my name but it came with heavy price. I don't know what will happen in the future when all is done and I don't even want this Noble Corp. So, please stop."

I know it's futile to try to change the ending. It never ends well whenever I tried to change. The price of causality always come with equal amount of change that I sometimes has nightmare about it but at least I want Mika to consider me. What I want.

"Okay," he replied as he realized something. "I need to work a lot harder then. So that our relatives or my mother can't get any leverage on us and by that time, I'll make sure to ask you."

No, I don't think you understand what I said. At the end, I sighed defeated by fate. 

"About Glenn, don't worry. I'll do something about him," Mika promised and I nodded slowly.

Watching my unenthusiastic respond, Mika gave me a long tight hug. I came here to give support to Mika but towards the end, I was the one who received support from Mika. The irony.

"Alright, that's enough. I have class tomorrow," I declared. I push him away and stood. 

Mika's face flushed and he coughed a little. "Yeah... sorry, okay," he said awkwardly. 

"G'night." I tapped his shoulder and walked out his bedroom.

"G'night."

I closed his bedroom door and felt a sharp gaze from across the hall. I know instantly to walked faster to my room, which is across Mika's room. Before Glenn even get to catch my wrist, I slammed the door on his face.

I could hear Glenn frustrated noise outside of my room and I don't have the energy to handle another problematic unwritten character progress.